(April 15, 2014 at 9:49 am)alpha male Wrote:

(April 15, 2014 at 9:29 am)Quantum Theorist Wrote: But that's exactly why religion is dying via the internet. More exposure to religions bullshit by more people.

So, tons of people sharing religious information shows that religion is dying... :thinking:

Not tons, just vocal proclaimers who really need to let you know they have faith.

"I have faith! I have faith! Look at me!"

No you don't. You have doubts, and the less people who are willing to consign everything you say, the more doubt you're going to have.

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(April 15, 2014 at 2:24 pm)alpha male Wrote:

(April 15, 2014 at 10:33 am)Deidre32 Wrote: So, I actually foresee Islam and Atheism growing as time goes on, with Christianity eventually fading away into a very small number.

You might find this surprising, but I predict pretty much the same thing.

"That way when I claim to be an oppressed minority, it'll really mean something!"

(April 15, 2014 at 9:49 am)alpha male Wrote:

(April 15, 2014 at 9:29 am)Quantum Theorist Wrote: But that's exactly why religion is dying via the internet. More exposure to religions bullshit by more people.

So, tons of people sharing religious information shows that religion is dying...

Yes, sharing fairy tales inoculates people and opens the idea up for scrutiny to more people. So you've got an entire audience on the internet that may not have heard the counter arguments to you or saw the hypocrisy/irony of religious postings. And even the ones who believe like you tend to not like obnoxious Christian postings. For example, I don't like when one of my Atheist friends posts Anti-religious postings on their religious friends wall, it's just annoying and comes off snooty.

(April 15, 2014 at 11:58 am)RobbyPants Wrote:

(April 15, 2014 at 10:33 am)Deidre32 Wrote: I actually foresee Islam surpassing Christianity globally in numbers, sooner than later. The reason is because most Muslims are devout and take their faith more seriously than Christians.
In general. Exceptions of course.

Well, that, and all of the countries that have apostasy as a capital offense are Muslim. It's more an issue of Islamic countries and cultures being more religiously oppressive than it is necessarily a level of devotion on an individual level of adherents.

Given that a handful of those countries also restrict Internet use, as well, it wouldn't surprise me if your prediction about Islam surpassing Christianity is correct.

That will be a horrible day. Muslims believe that there will come a day when they will be back on top, they will see it as a prophecy being fulfilled and use it as another reason to justify their cult.

(April 15, 2014 at 2:24 pm)alpha male Wrote:

(April 15, 2014 at 10:33 am)Deidre32 Wrote: So, I actually foresee Islam and Atheism growing as time goes on, with Christianity eventually fading away into a very small number.

You might find this surprising, but I predict pretty much the same thing.

Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world. Christianity still holds the highest numbers but once the elderly population dies off, the numbers will dwindle. Muslims have more children than Christians currently, so it stands to reason that Islam will eventually surpass Christianity (for a whole host of reasons) and atheism will be the second largest cohesive group under it.

I forgot you are Christian. Lol Are you a "cradle Christian" or did you convert as an adult? Are you strong in your faith? I'm just curious. :-)

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(April 15, 2014 at 5:42 pm)Senshi Wrote:

(April 15, 2014 at 11:58 am)RobbyPants Wrote: Well, that, and all of the countries that have apostasy as a capital offense are Muslim. It's more an issue of Islamic countries and cultures being more religiously oppressive than it is necessarily a level of devotion on an individual level of adherents.

Given that a handful of those countries also restrict Internet use, as well, it wouldn't surprise me if your prediction about Islam surpassing Christianity is correct.

That will be a horrible day. Muslims believe that there will come a day when they will be back on top, they will see it as a prophecy being fulfilled and use it as another reason to justify their cult.

I have devout Muslim friends who honestly are quite pious about their faith and love others, putting them first. Not all Muslims are radical and hate those who are non-Muslim. But, it is the fastest growing religion, currently.

I honestly "predict" atheism becoming the largest cohesive group, some day. Religions that are oppressive, don't last forever. I wonder what the great psychics have to say? Just joking, I don't believe in psychics.

Truth is, to your point, I shudder to think of any religion "dominating" the globe.
:/

(April 15, 2014 at 5:54 pm)Deidre32 Wrote:

(April 15, 2014 at 2:24 pm)alpha male Wrote: You might find this surprising, but I predict pretty much the same thing.

Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world. Christianity still holds the highest numbers but once the elderly population dies off, the numbers will dwindle. Muslims have more children than Christians currently, so it stands to reason that Islam will eventually surpass Christianity (for a whole host of reasons) and atheism will be the second largest cohesive group under it.

I forgot you are Christian. Lol Are you a "cradle Christian" or did you convert as an adult? Are you strong in your faith? I'm just curious. :-)

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(April 15, 2014 at 5:42 pm)Senshi Wrote: That will be a horrible day. Muslims believe that there will come a day when they will be back on top, they will see it as a prophecy being fulfilled and use it as another reason to justify their cult.

I have devout Muslim friends who honestly are quite pious about their faith and love others, putting them first. Not all Muslims are radical and hate those who are non-Muslim. But, it is the fastest growing religion, currently.

I honestly "predict" atheism becoming the largest cohesive group, some day. Religions that are oppressive, don't last forever. I wonder what the great psychics have to say? Just joking, I don't believe in psychics.

Truth is, to your point, I shudder to think of any religion "dominating" the globe.
:/

We also have to keep in mind that Atheists are pest through Islamic goggles, less in worth than Christians and Jews. Jihad groups are likely to get much more trigger happy at that point.

I would love to see the day religion is abolished, but I know that's unlikely. For now I'll contribute to it's dawn as much as I could.

(April 14, 2014 at 11:06 pm)Polaris Wrote: My beliefs and biases (if you could call a bias towards facts as a bias) in such regards are those that have academic merit. If you find value in that which does not meet academic criteria, you might as well be watching Ancient A

Let's hear your 'facts'. We're waiting.

(April 15, 2014 at 6:45 pm)Senshi Wrote:

(April 15, 2014 at 5:54 pm)Deidre32 Wrote: Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world. Christianity still holds the highest numbers but once the elderly population dies off, the numbers will dwindle. Muslims have more children than Christians currently, so it stands to reason that Islam will eventually surpass Christianity (for a whole host of reasons) and atheism will be the second largest cohesive group under it.

I forgot you are Christian. Lol Are you a "cradle Christian" or did you convert as an adult? Are you strong in your faith? I'm just curious. :-)

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I have devout Muslim friends who honestly are quite pious about their faith and love others, putting them first. Not all Muslims are radical and hate those who are non-Muslim. But, it is the fastest growing religion, currently.

I honestly "predict" atheism becoming the largest cohesive group, some day. Religions that are oppressive, don't last forever. I wonder what the great psychics have to say? Just joking, I don't believe in psychics.

Truth is, to your point, I shudder to think of any religion "dominating" the globe.
:/

We also have to keep in mind that Atheists are pest through Islamic goggles, less in worth than Christians and Jews. Jihad groups are likely to get much more trigger happy at that point.

I would love to see the day religion is abolished, but I know that's unlikely. For now I'll contribute to it's dawn as much as I could.

Interesting comment.

The irony of what you say here sort of runs counter to the OT. I kind of think that the internet as much as it's brought awareness AGAINST religion, it has also caused many people to lean towards it.

There are religous message sites much like this one we're on here, that help lead people towards religion.

My opinion is that if religion would keep to itself, I'd be ok with it. It is that it tries to get others to join it, often in coercive ways, or deviant ways...oppressive methods. It also has no business in government and politics, and while we have made strides in keeping religion and government separate here in the US, we still have a long way to go!

i was always an atheist, i just didn't think about it. the internet is filled with options.. faith-based thought dies with google searches.

(April 15, 2014 at 7:15 pm)Deidre32 Wrote:

(April 15, 2014 at 6:45 pm)Senshi Wrote: We also have to keep in mind that Atheists are pest through Islamic goggles, less in worth than Christians and Jews. Jihad groups are likely to get much more trigger happy at that point.

I would love to see the day religion is abolished, but I know that's unlikely. For now I'll contribute to it's dawn as much as I could.

Interesting comment.

The irony of what you say here sort of runs counter to the OT. I kind of think that the internet as much as it's brought awareness AGAINST religion, it has also caused many people to lean towards it.

There are religous message sites much like this one we're on here, that help lead people towards religion.

My opinion is that if religion would keep to itself, I'd be ok with it. It is that it tries to get others to join it, often in coercive ways, or deviant ways...oppressive methods. It also has no business in government and politics, and while we have made strides in keeping religion and government separate here in the US, we still have a long way to go!

If history repeats itself, muslims and adherents of all other religions will continue to faction off and fight between the factions. However, if a society believes in a right to freedom of thought, they can faction all they want and still remain united under that.

(April 15, 2014 at 7:08 pm)Chas Wrote:

(April 14, 2014 at 11:06 pm)Polaris Wrote: My beliefs and biases (if you could call a bias towards facts as a bias) in such regards are those that have academic merit. If you find value in that which does not meet academic criteria, you might as well be watching Ancient A

Let's hear your 'facts'. We're waiting.

Let's see Bible was written down in the 6th Century BCE from 5 sources including the Annals of the Kings of Judah and Israel (the main reason for its historical accuracy), Jesus is not based off Horus and all the points used to compare the two do not agree with accepted data from Egyptology (I'm surprised there are still those out there spreading that when most prominent atheists tore that claim apart), a bunch of the issues from Leviticus used as insults against Christians not following them pertain to ancestor worship of the Ammonites (and other tribes), and the "Dark Ages" was when religion lost power to control politics (there were a few overtly religious leaders, but it was rare for that time period).